Commenting on the call voiced by US President Donald Trump, urging Moscow to downgrade ties with Pyongyang, Russian Upper House speaker Valentina Matvienko has stated, "We are informed about it, it should be analyzed."
The Russian senator has emphasized that the policy to isolate North Korea from the international community is futile, adding, "We must try to involve it [Pyongyang] in the negotiation process, stop exchanging threats and loud statements."
"It doesn't contribute to the difficult searching for a peaceful diplomatic solution."
According to Matvienko, Russia still believes that there is no alternative to the diplomatic solution to the crisis.
The Russian Upper House Speaker's statement comes just hours after Trump has called on Moscow and Beijing to "downgrade diplomatic relations with the [North Korean] regime, and sever all ties of trade and technology."
READ MORE: Ryabkov: Russia Never Supported Total N Korea Embargo, There is an Alternative
The US president's address to South Korea’s National Assembly was made ahead of his visit to China as part of his 13-days trip to Asia-Pacific, with the North Korean issue being high on the agenda.
Previously, China has decided to partially ban imports from North Korea after repeated calls by the US president, urging Beijing, the DPRK's largest trade partner, to put more pressure on Pyongyang. Trump has praised Beijing's efforts and called on Moscow to help him with regard to the settlement of the crisis on the Korean peninsula.
READ MORE: Trump Says Hoping for Putin's Assistance in Dealing With North Korea
In the course of the unprecedented escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula amid Pyongyang's repeated missile launches and a nuclear test, Moscow and Beijing have proposed the so-called "double freeze plan" aimining to settle the crisis. According to the proposal, which has been so far rejected by Washington, North Korea should stop conducting nuclear tests, while the US and South Korea should refrain from joint drills.
